Reacting to news hours earlier that a consultation on closing A&E at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary had begun, elected members said they would attempt to meet with the Secretary of State for Health to raise their concerns.

Leaders of the three major parties agreed to unite to fight the plan.

A motion to full council expressed fears that health chiefs’ moves were coming on top of decisions to scale back urgent care at Dewsbury Hospital, leaving Kirklees with no full accident and emergency department.